All articles tagged with #livestock health
The UK is facing its worst bluetongue outbreak on record, with 2026-27 season cases already exceeding the total of the previous three years combined. The disease, linked to climate-driven warming, has spread to Scotland and is causing severe stress on farmers due to vaccine shortages and livestock fertility issues.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its billionth sterile fly in Texas to combat the New World screwworm. This milestone marks a significant expansion of the sterile insect technique, a method used to interrupt the pest's breeding cycle. While the screwworm was eradicated in the U.S. decades ago, recent cases have prompted a federal response. Despite concerns from scientists about potential spread, fewer than 50 cases have been recorded in the U.S. this year. The Trump administration is working to ramp up production to ensure sufficient supply for the ongoing campaign.
U.S. officials report 12 confirmed cases of New World screwworm (11 in Texas, 1 in New Mexico) as the flesh-eating parasite re-emerges after spreading north from Central America; eradicated in the 1960s, it threatens cattle, sheep and wildlife, prompting surveillance, testing and millions of sterile-male releases, a Kerrville research lab expansion, and a Texas disaster declaration to contain the outbreak; meat remains safe and early detection is crucial.
The USDA confirmed a New World screwworm infection in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, and launched a 12-mile infested zone with quarantines, border traps, and an Incident Command Team to eradicate the parasite; a sample is being validated by the NVSL, and authorities note thousands of cases in Mexico and the potential risk to livestock and rare human infections.
A New World screwworm was detected in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, with larvae found in the umbilical area; there are no additional detections at this time. USDA APHIS and Texas officials have launched containment and eradication efforts, including a 20-kilometer infested zone, quarantines, movement controls, and enhanced surveillance to protect livestock and prevent economic losses.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh have used CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically engineer pigs that are completely resistant to classical swine fever, a disease that causes significant economic losses in the global pork industry. This breakthrough could enhance disease control strategies, especially in regions heavily affected by the disease, and may be applicable to other livestock species, although adoption may face regulatory and societal challenges.